Gas outlet box



' Sept. 23, 1941. R- D MCINTQSH v 2,256,780

GAS OUTLET BOX Filed Sept. 9, 1940 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 GAS OUTLET BOX Robert l). McIntosh, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The- Imperial Brass Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 9, 194), Serial No. 356,003

6 Claims.

My'invention relates to outlet boxes 'and particularly an outlet box for a gas connection which can be used upon the wall of a room located on or near the baseboard to which a gas line can be connected for attachment to any of a variety of gas appliances useful in a household such as a gas-heater, a gas hot water heater, a gas range and the like.

Among the objects of my invention is tol provide a new and improved outlet box for gas cocks which is neat and attractive `in appearance, simply made and which completely conceals the gas cockfrom view. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved outlet boxfor gas cocks which litsinto'the wall of a room so that theface is substantially flush with'the wall and which includes a mechanism for locking the gas cock in closed position when a lid on the box is closed over the outlet connection of the cock, it being also among the objectsfof my invention to provide a latch mechanism operated upon lrnovementof the'lid to open-position for releasing'the locking mechanism, thereby permittingthe gas cock to beiturned on when the lid is raised.

'Still another object of my invention is to provide an outlet box for gas, cocks which houses and conceals the cock itself, the cock being provided on thebody `thereof with a locking mechanismv for normally locking the cock in shut-off position and which can be released from a normally locked position Vby a device actuated byfmovement of a lid normally coveringV the gas cock outlet but wherein the device operatedby the lidin normal position is entirely unconnected with the locking mechanism, thereby preventing any strain or pressure being brought against the lid by an inadvertent attempt to open the gas cock should the lid not lbe in an open position.

'A further object of my-invention is to provide a new and improved outlet box for a gas cock which is substantially gas-tightwherein an aperture through which a gas cock inlet connection passes is sealed tightly by means of a gasket preventing gas leaking from the cock itself from seeping into a space-between-thewalls of a room or building.

A further object still is to provide the gas outlet box justreferred to with a tiltable lid at the front face which includes a portion directed downwardly having an aperture to permit air to enter the outlet box and ,which is so loosely mounted at the top thereof that a circulation of air may be maintainedbetween the vent at the the box itself of any inadvertent leak vin the gas cock.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby theobjects contemplated are attained, as Ahereinaftermore fully set' forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the outlet box with the lid closed and` agas cock handle in shut-off position. i

Figure 2 is a verticalsection on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is ahorizontal section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1. n y

Figure 4 is a vvertical section on the line vll of Figure 2 drawn to a slightly larger scale.

Figure 5 is a vertical section toa slightly larger scale similar to Figure 4, showing open and closed positions of the cock when a gasline is connected to the outlet ,connection- AIt has long been lthe custom particularly in houses where gas'lis used to place a gas cock at I the end of a gas pipe in yaconspicuous position in the room.4 When so Aplaced the gas cockl probottom of the lid and the top in order'to clear 55 trudes outwardly fromthe floor or the wall in such a manner that except when concealed beneath a stove or other piece of furniture the projection forms a hazard and is constantly being tripped over or bumped into.v

Although in the pastv outlet boxes for gas cocks have been provided in order to conceal the gas cock and protect it from being accidentally bumped into, nevertheless such outlet boxes have` failed to take into consideration precautionary measures in 'order to have a gas connection-which is absolutely safe.

Some of these hazards include possible leakage of gas y'from a cock which is not tight into the dead-air space within the walls of a room where the surplus gas can form an explosive mixture with the air.

Also, prior devices have failed to provide a constant eicient ventilation means for the box itself whereby air is continually induced to circulate Within the box and carry outv with it gas which might leak from the connections.

Further, although the prior art has disclosed outlet boxes provided `with a lock operative at all times when the box is closed to prevent turning on of the gas cock, nevertheless such locking means have depended upon resistance set up by the lid itself to maintain the locking mechanism active, thereby necessitating aV specially built lid or coverfcr theoutlet connection.

In view ofthe fact that the design of domestic appliances of all kinds particularly gas and electric outlet boxes have been following a modern trend, it has become the practice to use phenolic resinous compounds among others to supply a neatly molded and attractively covered face plate for such outlet boxes..

Althoughfface plates made of such and similar substances have a highly attractive appearance, they are wanting in strength and rigidity to the extent that they must either be greatly reenforced or else used in such a way that little or no strain. is placed upon them. With this in mind there has been devisedl an outlet bzox as Adisclosed which includes thei. major safeguards, such as the provision of a gas-tight leakless box and a locking device normallyholding the gas cock in closed position wherein all parts upon which strain may be exerted are made apart of the gas cock itself subject to only periodic contact and actuation by a yportion of the cover plate when the lid isr raised, insucient to placeany undue strain upon fragile molded parts.

Y In the drawing there is shownan outlet box I0 preferably made of a continuous sheet material such as sheet metal having a cover plate I 2 which may be of a phenolic resinous compound or any common sheet material forming a top or closure for the box with a Vgas cock or valve I4 mounted within the box itself.

Specifically, the box has a bottom I5, side wallsl I6, I1, IIB and I9, and a turned over rim at the edges of the wens. At the bottom ofv the box is an aperture 2|. The cover plate has beveled edges 22 and is designed to it over the turned over rim 20 to which it is secured at each corner by screws 23'. 1 The box is designed to be set into. a wall 24 of a room Vsoy that the cover plate is substantially ush with the surface of the wall.

` l bow or pipe fitting 34 within the wall threadedly engaging the inlet connection. e

When the cock is mounted the box is first setin the wall opposite the end of a gas pipe 36. Then the valve inlet connection is passed through the aperture 2| and screwed into the gasV pipe fitting 34. The packing 28 is drawn snug by tightening the valve inlet intothe pipe tting, thereby forming a gas tight seal'between the bottom wall of the box and the body of the cock.

On the opposite side of the cock there is provided an outlet connection 38 and in the cover plate I2 is Van opening 40 through which the outlet connection may extend. Covering the opening 40 is a lid 42 which is pivotally mounted I on the top side by means of a pin 44 which 1 permits it to swing from a normally closed po- 3 sition as shown in Figur-e 2 to an open position i as shown in Figure 5;

A lowerrportion 46 of the lid extends outward- 1y from the faceof the cover plate surrounding the outlet connection of the cock and which `has It will be noted that the lid is somewhat loosepermit the circulation of air inwardly throughv Mval between a closed position shown in Figure 2 and a full open position shown in Figure 5.

On the stem 52 there is affixed a handle 58 shown in phantom view in Figures 4 and 5. An elongated opening 59 is provided in the cover plate for the handle so that the handle lies therein throughout most of its length and protrudes slightly therefrom at the bottom end.

l l The gas cock I4 positioned Within the box is` provided with anfinlet connection 2,6 which ex` tends vthrough the aperture 2I inthe bottom wall` a vent or As shown inY Figures 2 and 4, the handle is in shut-off position for the cock. yMeans is provided for vlocking the handle thus in shut-off position so that it cannot be raised opening the' gas cock unless the lid 42 is'raised. To provide for locking the handle'in this manner there is supplied a shoulder 60 on the handle anda latch 62 pivoted by means of a screw 64 to the body of the valve and provided at one end with a'hook 66 engageable with the shoulder.

A spring 61 normally urges the latch to aiV po-l sition whereinthe hook and shoulder are en-` gaged, thereby holding the handle in lockedpo'- sition. At the end of the latch opposite from the hook there is provided a lever element '68 and on the upper side of the lid itself there is supplied a latch actuator 1U which has a button 12 at the inside end capable of engaging the lever 68.

lid and provided with'a screw driver slot 15 at the outer end to permit adjusting the latch actuator inwardly or outwardly as occasion requires. When a gas'Y line 16 is vconnected with thepgas. cock by means,V for example, of a nut 11, the lid will be raised and a projection, 18 located in theand maintain recess 48 will contact the gas line the lid in an up or open position. Y Y

In operation a gas cock is mounted Vinthe out-f let box by insertion of the inlet 'connection through the aperture in the bottoni-ofV a' box.` When thus'inserted the nut 372 is drawn up Vsnugly'` against the outside of the box bottom, thereby'- squeezing the packing ring 28 into place forming a gas-tight seal at the aperture. gas line is connected at the rear;V

Normally the latch and latch actuator occupy' the positions shown in Figure 4. In such posi-u venting rotation of the handle and stem vin a lifted to thev position shown in Figure 5 and av gas line 16 connected'to the gas cock outletconnection 38 by means of a nut or similar connection 11. With the connection thus made, the lid 42 is elevated as shown and is prevented from rotating in a contrary direction to close againbyA means of contact with a projection 18 resting upon the top side of the gas line 16.

When the lid is thus raised, as shown in Figure 5, the latch actuator 12 is moved to a position against the lever element 68 which tends to tilt` The4 latch'act'uatorv has a stem 14y threadablyA secured in the upper portion of thel After this the Y it in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Figure '5, thereby releasing the hook 66 from 'engagement with the shoulder 60 on the stem. Thusreleased an operator is permitted to shift the handle from the dotted position 58 shown in Figure 5, to the dot-and-dash phantom position 58 likewise shown in Figure 5.

Movement in this manner a distance 90 degrees turns the gas cock from closed position to fullopen position. With the parts arranged in the manner shown in Figure 5, the handle can be used to turn the cock off and on at will.

Should the pipe line be disconnected, the lid 42 will fall by gravity back into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. During such movement the latch actuator is released from contact with the lever element 68 and the spring 61 rotates the latch back into position where the hook contacts the shoulder 6B. Such is the position when the handle has turned the valve ofi.

Under some circumstances it is appreciated that the cock might be slightly mispositioned within the Valve box due to a greater or lesser tightening of the valve into the fitting 34. Such a position might necessitate a slight adjustment of the latch actuator. For this reason the actuator is threadably mounted in the lid so that by application of a screw driver to the slot 15 the actuator may be moved inwardly or outwardly to a proper position of adjustment for correctly releasing the locking device for the valve.

It will also be apparent that in normal position, as shown in Figure 4 especially, there is no contact between the latch actuator as carried by the lid and the locking mechanism for the valve itself so that should any one inadvertently attempt to turn the valve on while the lid is closed all of the strain will be taken by the latch and the body of the valve. No strain will be transferred to the lid or cover plate which might be of a fragile material and therefore there will be no likelihood of fracturing or rupturing the decorative cover plate.

There has thus been provided a neat and attractive gas outlet box which completely and safely houses a gas cock in a normally locked Dosition when the outlet is not in use and which conveniently unlocks the connection whenever the box is opened for use.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure, or use ,of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gas outlet unit comprising a box having an aperture at one side and an opening at another, a cock in the box having an inlet connection extending through the aperture, and an outlet connection at said opening, a handle on the cock, a latch pivotally secured to the body of the cock normally spring pressed to a position engaging the handle when said handle is in cock closing position, a lid pivotally mounted on the box in position covering said opening, a latch actuator having an adjustable mounting on the lid and having an operative position such that when the lid is lifted the actuator is in engagement with the latch holding said latch out of engagement with the handle to permit movement of the handle for opening said cock.

2. A gas outlet unit comprising a box having an aperture in one side thereof and openings in another side, a cock in the box having an inlet connection extending through said aperture, and an Voutlet connection at one of said openings, a handle on the cock at another of said openings, a latch pivotally secured to the body of the cock-normally spring pressed to a locked position engaging the handle when the handle is in cock closing position, a lid on the box tiltably mounted in a position normally closing the outlet connection opening, a latch actuator mounted on the lid normally out of contact with said latch and having an operative position wherein when the lid is lifted the actuator is in engagement with the latch holding said latch out of engagement with the handle to permit movement of the handle for opening said cock.

3. A gas outlet unit comprising aboX adapted to be set in a wall having an aperture in one side thereof, a cover plate for said box having openings therein forming a plate substantially flush with said wall, a gas cock in the box having an inlet connection extending through said aperture and an outlet connection at one of said openings, a lid on the cover plate normally covering said one opening, a handle on the cock positioned at the other of said openings, a latch secured to the cock body having a hook element normally spring pressed to a locked position engaging said handle when the handle is in cock closing position, a latch actuator adjustably mounted on the lid having an operative position wherein when the lid is lifted the actuator engages the latch and releases the latch from engagement with the handle to permit movement of the handle for opening said cock.

4. A gas outlet unit comprising a box adapted to be set in a wall having an aperture at the bottom, a cover plate for said box having openings therein forming a covering substantially flush with said vwall and attached to the box, a gas cock in the box having an inlet connection extending through said aperture and an outlet connection extending through one of said openings, a lid on the cover plate normally covering said one opening, a handle on the cock positioned in the other of said openings, a shoulder at the base of the handle, a latch pivotally secured to the cock body having a hook element normally spring pressed to a position engaging said shoulder when the handle is in cock closing position, a latch actuator adjustably mounted on the lid in position normally free from contact with the latch and having an operative position when the lid is lifted engaging the latch whereby the latch is released from engagement with the shoulder on said handle to permit movement of the handle for opening said cock.

5. A gas outlet unit comprising a box adapted to be set in a wall having an aperture at the bottom, a cover plate for said box of molded material having openings therein forming a covering substantially flush with said wall and attached to the rim of the box, a gas cock in the box having an inlet connection extending through said aperture and an outlet connection extending through one of said openings, a lid tiltably mounted on the cover plate covering said outlet opening, a handle on the cock positioned in the other of said openings having an end extending outwardly therefrom, a shoulder at the base of the handle, a latch pivotally secured to the valve body having a hook element normally spring pressed to a position engaging said shoulder when the handle is in valve closing position and a lever element, a latch actuator adjustably mounted on thelid having an operative position when the lid is lifted engaging the lever element on the latch whereby the latch is lifted from engagement with the shoulder on said handle to permit movement of the/handle for opening said valve and having a normal inoperativeA position remote from engagement With said lever element; said lever element having an unrestricted path forpmovement to normal latching position when sai-d lid is closed.

6. Agas Voutlet unit comprising a continuous box having an aperture at one side adapted to be set in a Wall, a cover for said box forming a face plate attached to the rim of the box, a valve lid is open" to elevate the lid to a position'above.

said gasline.V Y ROBERT D. MCINTOSH. *n 

